The preliminary estimated resident population for Western Australia was 2.19 million persons at 30 September 2008, an increase of 0.8% since 30 June 2008. This was the highest percentage rise across the nation, ahead of Queensland and Northern Territory (both up 0.6%) and above the national population growth of 0.5%.

In the September quarter, Western Australia recorded 7,700 births and 3,400 deaths, a natural increase of 4,200 persons.

Net overseas migration added a further 11,400 persons to the State's population while net interstate migration added 1,600 persons.

In the year to September 2008, net overseas migration was the principal component of population growth followed by natural increase. Net interstate migration was a relatively small component of the growth.

2 ESTIMATED RESIDENT POPULATION AND COMPONENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE(a)

Estimated resident population(b)

Components of population growth

Total

Births

Deaths

Natural increase(c)

Net interstate migration

Net overseas migration(d)

Total population growth(e)

Reference period

persons

persons

persons

persons

persons

persons

persons

2006-2007

2 112 967

28 900

11 956

16 944

5 188

31 454

53 586

2007-2008

2 171 197

31 167

12 437

18 730

4 808

34 692

58 230

2006

2 084 733

27 928

11 634

16 294

4 528

26 235

47 461

2007

2 138 062

29 260

12 323

16 937

4 674

31 718

53 329

2007

September

2 125 905

7 773

3 382

4 391

889

7 658

12 938

December

2 138 062

6 848

2 977

3 871

740

7 546

12 517

2008

March

2 156 673

8 411

2 954

5 457

1 710

11 444

18 611

June

2 171 197

8 135

3 124

5 011

1 469

8 044

14 524

September

2 188 462

7 673

3 432

4 241

1 640

11 384

17 265

(a) ERP data may be final, revised or preliminary at any point in time. See the 'ERP Data Status' section of the Notes in the source publication.

(b) At end of reference period.

(c) Births minus deaths.

(d) Adjusted for category jumping.

(e) Differences between total growth and the sum of the components of population change prior to September quarter 2006 are due to intercensal discrepancy.